Excavating machine



April 25, 1961 A. R. ASKUE 2,981,013

EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALBERTR. ASKUE BY Bales, 7M i $236M April 25, 1961 A; R. ASKUE 2,981,013

EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1957 6 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. ALBERTR. Asxue BY 351 65, 75mm f 44 3M ATTORNEYS April 25, 1961 A. R. ASKUEEXCAVATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 12, 1957 INVENTOR. ALBERTR. ASKUE ATTORNE Y$ April 1951 I A. R. ASKUE 2,981,013

EXCAVATING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 12, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 CARRIAGE 84,RIGHT- HAND SIDE OF BOOM OUTER END OF BOOM I--LEFTHAND SIDE RIGHT-HANDSIDE LCARRIAGE s4, LEFT- HAND SIDE R 5 9 Ila 42 I00 -25- I22 I 1 0 I '10f/ H 72 I c DEAD END-MOVABLE MAST\. q

LEFT-HAND SIDE RIGHT -HAND SIDE DEAD END ON SHEAVE CAGE 64 ON STATIONARYMAST SHEAVES ON MACHINE FRAME RIGHT- HAND SIDE LEFT-HAND SIDE J -DEADEND- RIGHT-HAND SIDE or INVENTOR MACHINE FRAME BY ALBERT R. Asxue 5 6 jBra/5 m X 4 38.

ATTOR NEY} April 25, 1961 A. R. ASKUE EXCAVATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed Aug. 12. 1957 WI i vmN OWN INVENTOR. ALBERT R. Asxua jar e5,T3212 ATTORNEYS April 25, 1961 A. R. ASKUE EXCAVATING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 12, 1957 INVENTOR. ALBERT R. ASKUE Ba s-s,762mg 41 3600. ATTORNEY5 2,981,013 Patented Apr. 25, 1961 EXCAVATINGMiscnnw Albert R. Askue, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland gl'lencher Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of 1o Filed Aug. 12,1957, Ser. No. 677,453 5 Claims. (Cl. 37-94 This invention relates toanexcavating machine and more particularly to an excavating machinehaving a laterally shiftable digging unit which can be adjusted to digat diiferent positions with respect to the chassis of the machine.

Excavating machines embodying laterally shiftable digging units arelmown in the art. However, these prior art arrangement-s generallyleavemuch to be desired in that they are usually extremely complex,resulting in a machine of undesirable Weight and cost, and generally arenot easily shiftable transversely of the machine chassis,

but instead require considerable time and/or effort to effect lateralmovement of the digging unit.

The present invention provides an excavating machine having anexcavating unit of the wheel type mounted on a generally longitudinallyextending boom which, in turn, is mounted for vertical movement on asupplementary mast or'frame structure, the latter being supported by amain mast structure mounted onthe machine chassis and being adapted tomove transversely of the main mast to locate the excavating unit atvarious transverse positions with respect to the machine chassis. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the digging unit and boom arealso adapted to be tilted laterally with respect to the longtiudinal,vertical center plane of the machine to permit the digging of anexcavation having vertical side walls, even though the machine is not inalevel position, such as might occur during operation on uneven grounderon a crowned roadway. Control mechanism comprising a novel system orsystems of. cables and sheavesis provided for facile and eflicientraising and lowering of'the digging-boom and associated excavatingunit," for accomplishing transverse ,shifting ot the unit, and fortilting or angling the latter in the aforedescribed manner; Hydraulicpiston; and cylinder units are provided for actuating the sheave andcable systems,

suchunits being connectedto a'suitable source of pressurized fluidmounted on the machine chassis, and in;- cluding suitable valvemechanism V for controlling the 1 flow of fiuidto the hydraulic units. Adifferential, power transmission unitis mounted on the supplementary,trans versely movableniast structure for transmitting power from themotonunit o-f the machine to the excavating unit thereof, andisconnected by means of adrive chain 3 to a counter'shaift on themachine'chassis' which in' turn is drivin'gly connected 't-othe motorunit of the machine.

A novel chaintensioning mechanism is provided for takingup slack in thedriving chain'and yet providing means In one embodiment of theinvention, the supplementary mast,"which supports the digging boom andexcavating unit, has rollers mounted thereon engaging rail or guidesurfaces on the main mast structure for anti-friction movement of thesupplementary mast during transverse shifting thereof with respect tothe machine chassis. In a modified form of the invention thesupplementary, transversely movable mast structure is connected to andmounted on a hinged auxiliary frame structure carried by the machinechassis and rockable transversely thereof, to provide for the lateralshifting movement of the excavating unit. 1

Accordingly, theprimary object of the invention is to provide anexcavating machine having a shiftable excavating unit thereon mountedfor lateral movement transversely of the machine chassis and includinghydraulic means in combination with a sheave and cable system orsystems, for accomplishing such lateral shifting of the excavating unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an excavating machine ofthe latter-described type which ineludes a laterally shiftable,supplementary mast structure carrying the excavating unit and mounted onroller members for transverse movement with respect to the machinechassis and wherein the excavating unit is movalblevertically withrespect to the machine chassis and tiltable laterally with respect tothe longitudinal, vertical center plane of the machine in an eilicientand coordinat- I ed manner, for providing a wide range of diggingpositions for the excavating unit of the machine, and wherein suchtransverse, vertical and tilting movements are facilelyu accomplished bycontrol mechanism including bydraulic means in conjunction with a sheaveand cable system or systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel I: arrangement oftransmitting power from the motor unit of the machine to the excavatingunit for driving the cavating machine having a laterally shiftableexcavating unit thereon which is mounted on an auxiliary frame structurewhich is rockable transversely of the machine chassis, toprovide for theshifting movementof the excavaiing unit, and which includes hydraulicmeans for rocking the auxiliary frame structure. I

Another objectot the invention is to provide an excavating machine whichincludes a transverselyshiftable for permitting asufficient range oftransverse movement unit with respect to the countershaft onthe/machineof the "supplementary mast and associated transmission- "sheave and''cable supplementary frame or. mast carrying the excavating unit, andwhich is'easily and efiiciently shi-fted- -transversely of the machinechassis by hydraulic means.

Otherfeatures and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthefollowing description taken inconjunc tion with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

"Fig. l' 'is a side elevationallview of an excavating machine embodyingthe invention;

L'Fig. lAjis an enlarged fragmentary felevational V viewtahenfrom li togshow in greater detail the const uction'gof mainand-supplementarystructure, and the operating mechanisms for posit onin and actuate,

ar end elevatioualyiew of thefexcavating machine, a portion of thesupplementary, transversely movable mast structure, the digging boom,and the excavating unit having been removed to better illustrate thedrive system and the tensioning mechanism for taking up slack in thedrive chain of the system; in phantom lines there is shown a transverseposition of a portion of the supplementary mast structure;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front-end elevational view taken generally alongline 3-3 of Fig. 1A, of the arrangement for mounting the supplementarymovable mast on the main mast of the machine and illustrates a portionof the cable, tilt drum and hydraulic mechanism for tilt-- ing theexcavating unit from its vertical plane position;

Fig. 3A is a fragmentary top plan view taken generally along line 3A3Aof Fig. 1A, illustrating the head portion and associated roller membersand sheave elements of the supplementary mast structure;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the unloading conveyor ofthemachine and associated hydraulic actuating unit taken generally alongline 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally alongline 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the cable and sheave system formoving the digging unit and associated supplementary mast structuretransversely of the machine, the plane of the illustration being takengenerally along line 6-6 of Fig. 1A, looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the cable and sheave system forraising and lowering the boom with respect to the machine chassis, andfor tilting the digging boom and associated excavating unit laterallyfrom a vertical plane position, the plane of the illustration beingtaken generally along line 77 of Fig. 1A, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modificd form of theinvention wherein a rockable, auxiliary frame structure is utilized toaccomplish lateral shifting movement of the excavating unit;

Fig. 9 is a rear-end elevational view of the Fig. 8 arrangement, withportions of the structure removed to better illustrate the invention;

Fig. 10 is a top plan, diagrammatic view illustrating the take-upmechanism mounted on the head portion ofthe supplementary mast structureof the modified form of the invention for maintaining the upper portionof the supplementary mast in abutting engagement with the main mastwhile still providing for transverse movement of the supplementary mastwith respect to the main mast and the machine chassis.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the cable and sheave systemfor raising'and lowerin the boom and associated excavating unit withrespect to the machine chassis, the plane of the illustration beingtaken generally along line 1111 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

In the drawings, the invention is illustrated as being applied to acrawler propelled'excavating machine. Referring in particular to Figs.l-7 of the drawings, such a machine broadly comprises a base framestructure 2 supported on suitable tractor treads 3, aamotor 4 mounted.on the forward end of the machine, a power take-off unit disposed behindthe motor, a hydraulic pump unit 6, operatively connected to the motorunit, main mast structure 7 for supporting thereon supplementary maststructure 8 which embodiesroller members 9, 9a, 9b and.

9c for anti-friction (Figs. 1A, 2 and 3A), transverse shifting movementof mast 8 with respect to 'themachine' chassis, digging boom structurewhich is mounted for vertical movement'on supplementary mast 8, anexcavating unit 11 which is rot-atably' mounted on boom 10, and

an u'nloading'conveyor 12 extending transversely through excavatingunit'll and adapted for lateral shifting move ment with respect to "unit11' and the machinechassis.

Frame structure 2 is of more or less conventional characte'r andcomprises a base portion 14 (Fig.1) andforward ly extending sills 15 formounting motor 4 thereon.

Main mast structure 7 comprises a plurality of upwardly extending armelements 16 connected by transversely extending cross-members includinga top cross-member 16a which extends laterally outwardly of arm elements16 (Fig. 2) Top cross-member 16a provides rail guide surfaces 17, 17aand 17b (Figs. 1A, 2 and 3A) for engagement with the respectivelyaforementioned roller members 9a, 9b and 9c. The function and operationof the latter arrangement will be hereinafter more thoroughly discussed.

Generally diagonal braces 16b extending between cross-member 16a and armelements 16, and braces 18 extending generally forwardly between armelements 16 and frame 2 of the machine, comprise part of main maststructure 7 and strengthen the latter. Mast structure 7 also includes,for the purposes of the invention, generally longitudinally extendingbeam members 19 which project rearwardly of the tractor tread 3 of themachine (Fig. 1A) and which comprise a transversely extendingcrossmember 19a presenting a generally diagonally disposed rail surface1% thereon. Surface 19b is adapted for engagement with theaforementioned roller members 9 for anti-friction movement ofsupplementary mast structure 8 transversely with respect to the chassisof the machine.

Supplemental mast 8 comprises generally upright, diagonally extendingarm elements 21 connected at the top and bottom thereof by crosselements. Reference number 23 (Fig. 1) designates a support structure onmast 8 for mounting digging differential unit 24 thereon. A forwardlyextending head portion 25 (Figs. 1, 1A, 2 and 3A) of preferablyfabricated construction, is attached to the upper end of mast structure8 and comprises a series of brackets 26 for rotatably mounting rollermembers 9a, 9b and 9c thereon, as by means of shaft members 28. Rollermembers 9 on the lower portion of the supplemental mast structure 8 arerotatably mounted thereon by means of bracket portions 29 in combinationwith shaft elements 29a. A flange 30 on supplementary mast 8 overlapscross member 19a on the main mast 7 to aid in maintaining the assembledrelationship of the mast structures.

The excavating wheel 11 is driven by sprocket wheels 31 which coact witha series of pins 32 on both sides of the wheel. (Fig. 1). Wheels 31 aredrivingly connected to shaft 33 which is drivingly connected'to asprocket wheel 35 which, in turn, is connected by any suitable means(illustrated in the drawings by drive chain 36) to a sprocket wheel 38connected to differential unit 24 mounted on supplemental mast structure8. Differential unit 24 has a sprocket wheel39 extending forwardlythereof which is drivingly connected by means of drive chain 40 to asprocket wheel attached to counter-shaft assembly 42 on the machinechassis. In this connection' a chain tensioning device 44 (Figs. l-A and2) is provided, around which chain 40 is looped to take up slack in the.latter, and yet provide for the transverse movement of the supplementalframe 8 and associated differential unit 24 with respect to thecountershaft assembly 42 on the machine chassis.

Mechanism 44 comprises a pair of spaced arm elements 45 secured to ashaft 48" rotatably mounted'on element, such as a tension spring 52, isattached at one; .end' as ,atl53, toeccentric portion 50 and at theother end thereof is connected to the machine chassis, as by means ofbracket and eye bo1t 53 z'. The eccen tric portion 50 increases themoment arm of the,ten-

sion 'forceof-spring 52 acting' to rotate shaft ,48 Land .ggg 'hed armjel ernen ts' 45'. andidler sprocket 'wheels 49,-

plemental mast 8, the moment arm of element 52 with respect to the axisof rotation of shaft 48 decreases, thus tending to equalize the tensionapp'liedby mechanism 44' to chain 40, irrespective of the transverseposition of mast 8 with respect to main mast structure 7. The maximumlateral movement of the supplemental mast to one side of the machinechassis and the corresponding position of the drive chainengagingsprocket wheel 39 on the associated digging difierential unit 24 isshown.

in dot-dash in'Fig. 2 of the drawings and referred to by referencenumbers 47 and 47a respectively.

Counter-shaft assembly 42 is mounted on the machine chassis as by meansof pillow blocks 54 andis drivingly connected by any. suitable means(indicated in the drawings by drive chains 56.) to a sprocket wheeldrivingly connected to power take-elf. unit 5. The ap plication of powerto counter-shaft assembly 42 is con trolled as by means of lever andlinkage system 58 (Fig. 2). g

Transverse movement of the supplemental mast structure 8, associatedboom and digging unit 11 is accomplished by means of a cable and she-avesystem diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The cableand sheave mechanism is actuated by a doubleacting hydraulic cylinderunit 60 (Figs. 1A and 2) mounted on frame 2 of the machine chassisgenerally intermediate arms 16 of main mast structure 7. As bestunderstood from Figs. 1A, 2 and 6, one end of a cable A is attached asat 61 to the right-hand side of head portion 25 of supplemental maststructure 8 (as viewed a in Figs. 2 and 6), passes along cross-member16a of the ,From sheave E, cable A extends downwardly and is loopedaround intermediate sheave F rotatable mounted in sheavecage 66 onhydraulic unit 6 0;and then passes upwardly to dead-end as at 68 (Fig.-6) on the front face of sheave cage ,64.v One end of another cable a Gis attached as at 6?,to the opposite side (or thelefthand side as viewedin Figs. 2 and 6) of head portion 25 ofsupplemental mast structure 8-andpasses along cross-member 16;; of the main. mast structureto loop.

around sheave H rotatably mounted in cage 7! attached to the right-handside of the main or fixed mast structure 7. From sheave H, cable Greverses-itself to loop cage 7 4 on the right-hand side (as viewed inFigs. 2 and 6) of the machine chassis. .From Shti ve L'cable G extendsupwardly to loop around rear sheaveK of sheave cage 66' on hydraulicunit o d and then. extends downwardly to loop around sheave L (Fig. 1A)r01- tatably mounted in sheavecage 75 on the left-handj around sheave Irotatably mounted in cage 72depending from main maststructure 7,-andthen extendsdownwardly' to loop aroundsh'eave J rotatably mounted in.

side (as viewed in Figs. 2 and.6) of frame 2 of the ma-- chine, and thenpasses upwardly to loop around front sheave M of sheave cage 66 ofhydraulic unit 60. From sheave M, cable G passes diagonally to theright-hand side of the machine chassis and is dead-ended or anchoredthereto as at 77 (Fig. 6). Hydraulic unit 60 is connected as by feedlines 78 to pump unit 6 on the machine chassis and suitable valvemeans-(not shown)v of any conventional character may be provided to actuate unit 60. Upon outward or upward movement of plunger element 67 ofhydraulic unit 60, a tensile force is applied tocable-G which, in turn,pulls or moves supplementary frame-S transversely toward the right-handside (as viewed in Fig.2) of the machine chassis. Upon inward ordownward movement of plunger element 67 a of hydraulic unit 60, cable Apulls or moves the supplementary frame 8 transverselytoward theleft-hand side (as viewed in Fig. 2) of the machine chassis. It will beseen, therefore, that an eflicient and quick operating hydraulicallycontrolled arrangement is provided for locating the supplementary frame8 in a widerange of transverse positions with respect to the machinechassis. Thelimits of inward and outward movement of the plunger element67 of hydraulic unit 60 also limits the total transverse movement of themovable mast structure 8. Accordingly, no auxiliary stop mechanism orapparatus is required to restrict the lateral movement of the movablemast and associated boom and excavating ,unit,'.all of the limitingbeing done by the cable and sheave system in combination with hydraulicunit 60.

A pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston units 80 and 80a(Fig.2) are mounted on head portion 25 ofsupplementary mast structure 8and project downwardly therefrom. Each of units 80, 80a is connected by.means of feed lines 82, 95 and to the pump on the machine proper andsuitable valve mechanism (not shown) of any conventional type may beprovided to control the flow of pressurized fluid to units 80 and 80a,to. actuatethe same. I 7

. Hydraulic units 80 and 80a are adapted to raise and lower boomstructure 10 and associated excavating unit" 1-1. As best seen in Fig.1A, the inner end of boom 10. is connected to. a carriage 84 which'ismounted for vertical movement on an arm 21 of supplementary maststructure 8. Referring in particular to Figs. 1, 1A, 2 and 7, a novelsystem of cables and sheaves is employed in combination with hydraulicunits 80; 80a to raise and lower the boom 10 and associated excavatingunit '11,

orto angle the boom vertically about the axis of its connection:tocarriages 84. The sheave and cable system diagrammatically illustratedin Fig, 7 is also used incombinationwith other mechanism to'tilt theexcavating unit laterally from its normal generally *vertical planeposition, to permit-the digging of anexcavation having verticalsidewalls even thoughthe chassis of the machine is notin a generallylevel or horizontal position, as was briefly previously discussed. Thislatter feature will be" described after discussing the presentarrangement for hoisting or raising and lowering the boom and excavatingunit. Asshown iii Figs. 1 and '7, a'cable N is anchored to the outer endof the left-hand side or boom 10 as at as and extends forwardlytherefrom to-loop arounda sheave O rotatably mounted in rooster cage 86,which is pivotally mounted as-at 87" to head portion 25 of supplementarymast structure 8. Cable N then loops around generally horizontallydisposed sheave P (Figs. 1A and 3A) rotatably. mountedin cage 87a onhead portion 25 of supplementary mast 8, and passes forwardly to looparound'sheave Q (Figs. 1A and 3A). Sheave'Q is rotatably' mounted in agenerally vertical position in double cage portion;88 .on-head 25'of thesupplementary mast structure 8.; Asgseen :in Fig. 3a, cage 88 isgenerally diagonally 'disposed onhead' portion 25 'of mast 8. Fromsheave Q, cable N extends downwardly to loop around sheave R (Figs. 2and 7) mounted in cage 89 which, in turn, is rotatably mounted onplunger element 90 of hydraulic unit 80. From sheave R, cable N passesupwardly to loop around tilt drum 92 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7of the drawings. Cable N is looped through openings 94 (Fig. 7) in tiltdrum 92 to thereby clinch the cable to the drum and prevent relativeslipping therebetween. The function and associated structure formounting tilt drum 92 on head portion 25 of supplementary mast structure8 will hereinafter be described.

From drum 92, cable N extends downwardly to loop around sheave Srotatably mounted in double cage 89 attached to plunger element 90 ofhydraulic unit 80. From sheave S, cable N extends upwardly to looparound sheave T generally diagonally mounted on head portion 25 ofmovable mast 8 (Fig. 3A). From sheave T, cable N extends rearwardly toloop around generally horizontally disposed sheave U rotatably mountedin cage structure 87a adjacent the aforementioned sheave F. From sheaveU, cable N extends laterally toward the righthand side of the machinechassis (as viewed in Fig. 2), loops around sheave V (Fig. 3A) rotatablymounted in rooster cage 93 on the right-hand side of head portion 25 ofsupplementary mast 8 and then passes downwardly to be anchored as at 94to the outer end of boom structure on the right-hand side thereof (Fig.7). It will be seen, therefore, that upon downward movement of plungerelement 90 of hydraulic unit 80 (the latter being accomplished bysupplying pressurized fiuid from pump unit 6 on machine chassis throughfeed line 95 to the cylinder of unit 80, such flow of pressurized fluidbeing controlled by suitable valve mechanism of any conventional type)the outer end of the boom structure 10 will be raised in a generallyvertical direction by cable N in combination with the downward movementof sheaves R and S of cage 89 on hydraulic unit 80.

7 Another cable W is anchored to the carriage 84 on the inner end ofboom 10 on the left-hand side thereof as at 96, and extends upwardly topass around sheave X mounted in cage 97 (Fig. 1A) on the rear-end ofhead portion 25 of supplementary mast structure 8. Cage 97 is of therooster type and is pivotally mountedcat its upper end as at 98. Fromsheave X, cable W extends laterally toward the right-hand side of themachine (as viewed in Fig. 2) and passes around generally horizontallydisposed sheave Y (Fig. 3A) rotatably mounted in cage structure 99 onhead portion 25 of the supplementary mast. From sheave Y, cable Wextends generally forwardly'to loop around sheave Z (Fig. 3A) mounted ingenerally diagonally disposed double sheave cage 100 on head portion 25of the movable mast 8. From sheave Z,- cable N extends, downwardly toloop 'around sheave A 1 (Fig, 2) rotatably mounted in double sheave cage101 which, in turn, is pivotally mountedon plunger element 102 ofhydraulic unit 80a. From sheave A1, cable Wextend s upwardly to looparound tilt drum 92 in the manner shown in Fig. 7. As viewed in thelatter figure cable W islooped through openings 104 in the tilt drum forclinching the cable to the drum and preventing relative slippingtherebetween. From drum 92,cable W extendsdownwardly' to loop 'aroundsheave B1 (Fig. 2)

upper end thereof, for outward movement of the cage with respect to thevertical plane of head portion 25 of supplementary mast 8: From sheaveEl cable W extends generally downwardly to be anchored as at 108 (Fig.7) to a carriage 84 attached to the inner end of the righthand side ofboom member 10.

Upon downward movement of plunger element 102 of hydraulic unit a (thelatter movement being accomplished by supplying pressurized fluid frompump unit 6 by means of feed line to the cylinder of unit 80a) the innerends of boom structure 10 will be raised upwardly by cable W incombination with the downward movement of sheaves A1 and B1 attached tocage 101 on plunger element 102 of units 80a. It will be seen thathydraulic units 80 and 80a can be operated separately or in combinationto provide a wide range of vertical movement of the digging boom andassociated excavating units with respect to the chassis of the machine.Hydraulic units 80 and 8612 are used as a push-type only, since theweight of the excavating boom and associated excavating unit will causethe latter to move downwardly from an elevated position on supplementarymast structure 8. However, hydraulic units 80 and 80a are of the doubleacting type and accordingly may be quickly adjusted in either an up anddown direction to provide an efficient and rapid arrangement foradjusting the vertical position of the excavating unit with respect tothe machine chassis.

The excavating unit 11 is, as aforesaid, also tiltable laterally fromits normally generally vertical plane position for the digging of anexcavation having vertical side walls even though the machine proper isnot disposed in level position. Referring in particular to Figs. 1, 1A,3 and 7 of the drawings, tilt drum 92 is fixed to a shaft 112 rotatablymounted on hearing supports 114 projecting upwardly from head portion 25of supplementary mast structure 8. Fixed to shaft 112 is an arm 116having a bifurcated end portion 116a. A double-acting hydraulic cylinderunit 118 is pivotally mounted as at 119, on one side of head portion 25of movable mast 8, as by means of bracket 120. The plunger element 122of unit 118 is pivotally connected as at 124 to the bifurcated portion116a of arm 116. Feed lines 126 connect the cylinder of unit 118 to pump6 to supply pressurized fluid to unit 118 to actuate the same. Suitablevalve mechanism (not shown) of any conventional type may be provided tocontrol the flow of fluid to unit 118. Upon outward or inward movementof plunger element 122 of unit 118, arm 116 causes shaft 112 andattached tilt drum 92 to rotate with respect to supports 114. Uponinward movement of plunger 122 and resultant rotation of drum 92 in aclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1A) alternate strands 126 and 128(Fig. 7) of cables N and Ware rolled upon or around drum 92 whichresults in an upward pull on the inner and outer ends of the left-handside (as viewed in Fig. 2) of the boom structure 10, thus tilting thelatter and the associated excavating unit 11 laterally about theexcavating units longitudinal 'axis. Suificient clearance is provided inthe connection between carriages 84 and arm elements 21 of thesupplementary mast structure 8 to permit a predetermined amount oftilting of the boom and excavating unit without binding occurringbetween carriages 84 and movable mast structure 8. The aforementionedopenings 94 and 104 in the drum through which the cables N and W extendprevent slipping of the cables relative to the drum during rotation ofthe latter. Upon outward movement of plunger element 122 of hydraulicunit 118, arm 116 causes counterclockwise rotation (as viewed in Fig.1A) of drum 92, thereby winding a portion of alternate strands 130 and132 (Fig. 7) of cables'W and N about the drum in acounter-clockwisedirection resulting in an upward pull on the inner andouter ends of the right-hand side (as viewed in Fig. 2) of the boomstructure, thereby tilting boom 10 and excavating unit 11 laterallyabout the excavating units longitudinal axis, the latter tilting beingin the opposite direction as that occurring for the aforedescribedtilting movement of the left-hand side of the boom. Re-

ferring to Fig. 7,. it will be seen that this tilting movement of theboom and excavating wheel is accomplished by having the dead-endportions of strands 126 and 128 of cables N and W wound about drum 92 ina clockwise direction while the dead-end portions of strands 130 and 132of cables W and N are wound in a counter-clockwise direction about thedrum, thus resulting in tension being applied to the various sections ofthe cables, depending upon which direction the tilt drum is rotated.

It will be seen that the latter-described tilting arrangement of theboom and excavating unit is separably actuable from the hoistingarrangement and/or the transversely moving arrangement of the boom andexcavating unit, and therefore the excavating machine possesses a Widerange of operating positions and effective and quick operating means foroperating the positioning mechanism, to greatly increasethe usability ofthe excavating machine. 4

Referring in particular to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the unloading conveyor 12extends through excavating unit 11 transversely of the machine chassisand comprises at opposite ends thereof a drum 135 mounted on shaft 137carried by an arcuate contoured (in side elevation) conveyor frame 138.Drums 135 carry an endless belt element 140 for receiving excavatedmaterial from excavating unit 11 and carrying it to either side of themachine, for discharge thereof.

Suitably attached to shaft 137 on one end of conveyor 12 is a hydraulicmotor 142 connected by feed lines 144 to pump unit 16 and suitable valvemechanism (not shown) is provided for controlling the flow ofpressurized fluid to motor 144. Motor 144 may be driven in eitherdirection to thereby provide for reversing the direction of travel ofbelt 140 of the conveyor. Conveyor frame 138 includes spacedarcuate-like rail members 146 which are mounted on rollers 14? on theboom structure for providing for anti-friction movement of the conveyorduring transverse shifting thereof. Flange 150 over-lapping a'portion ofthe rail members 146 maintains the conveyor in assembled condition onthe boom.

Transverse movement of the conveyor with respect to the excavating unit11 and machine chassis is accomplished by hydraulicpiston and cylinderunit 152, in combination with a sheave and cable system. Unit 152 is ofthe double-acting type and. is suitably connected as by means of feedlines 154 to pump unit 6 and suitable valve mechanism (not shown) of anyconventional type is provided to control the flow of fluid to unit 152.A doublesheave cage 156 is connected'to the end of plunger element 158of unit l52'and a pair of sheaves 160 and 162arerotatably.mounted-therein as by means of pin 164.

One end of "a cable 166 is anchored as bymeans of eye 2bolt167 to anouter end of the conveyor frame 138, loops around sheave 160 and then isanchored as at 170 toLcylinder guide. rail 172attached to boom structure10.

One end o-fanoth-er cable-174is anchored as at 175 adjacent the oppositeend of guide rail element 172, is looped around sheave, 1G2 in cage 156andthen is anchored as at 176,to-compression spring unit 178 connectedbymeans of eye bolt 179 to bracket 18,0 attached to anend of rail member.146. 'lhe cylinder end of hydraulic, unit 152 is pivotally. mounted asby means of pin 182. to bracket 180.

Upon outward movement of; the plunger element 158 of unit '2j tens'ionis. applied to. the top" stretch of cable 174- whicli causes the lattertoshift theconveyor toward in bracket 186 through which the bottomstrand of cable.

174 extends.

Referring to the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to11, inclusive, of the drawings, the supplemental mast 195 is generallysimilar to the supplemental mast 8 in the first-described embodiment ofthe invention except that mast 195 does not embody roller members forproviding transverse movement of the supplementalmast structure withrespect to the machine chassis. Instead, head portion 197 of mast 195has a pair of transversely spaced bracket portions 198 dependingtherefrom to which are pivotally mounted, as by means of pins 200,auxiliary frame structure 201.

Auxiliary frame structure 261 comprises a plurality of generallyvertically disposed, transversely spaced arm portions 202 pivotallymounted for transverse rocking movement as by means of pins 203 onbracket portions 204 carried by machine chassis 2. The main maststructure 205 of the modification includes upright arm elements 207connected at their upper ends by cross member 268, as in the firstembodiment of the invention. Member 2118 presents a rearwardly facinggenerally vertically disposed abutment surface 210 which is adapted forrelative sliding engagement with head portion 197 of the supplementalmast structure 195 during transverse movement of the latter. Mast 205also includes, for the purposes of the invention, rearwardly extendinggenerally longitudinal base members 212 connected by transversecross-element 214. Element 214 presents a generally vertically disposedguide or rail surface 216 for relatively sliding engagement with thelower portion of supplemental mast 195. A shoulder 218 on movable mast195 overlaps the top portion of cross element 214 and operates the left'as viewed inFig. 4, whilecable 166 moveslater- I ally withthefconvey'or frameand-is reeved about sheave 1 601 in"cage'1 56onplu'nger element-151' .v Upon inward movemenfof the plunger element'tension in the top stretchgof cable 166causes transverseshifting of'theconveyor to theright as yiewed i'n'Fig. while cable" 174 laterallywiththe conveyonand isree'ved about M sheave 152 n e plungerelement158."*Guiderail 17.2 e

, tia jii gt per dien face 184 theredn'to; earn the outer to maintainsupplementary mast 195 in assembled condition with main mast 2115. Thehead portion 197 of mast 195 is maintained in engagement with guidesurface 210 of upper cross member 208 as by means of a cable 220 (Figs.8 and 10) which is anchored to opposite sides of v the machine chassis,asby means of adjustable eye bolts v 222, and which is looped aboutcable take-up mechanism 224 pivotally mounted as by means of bracketstructure 226 tothe upper end of head portion 197 of supplemental mast195. .,Mechanism 224, which is preferably of fabricated construction,comprises generally perpendicularly related arm. elements 228,229 havingarcuate-like guide surfaces 230 on the outer. ends thereof forengagement with cable 220. Vertically spaced flanges 232 on" the outerends of the arm elements act to retain the cable in assembled conditionwith surfaces 230- on mechanism 224. Cable 220, as aforesaid, isanchored to one side of the machine'chassis as, for instance, at 234 onthe left- I 236 cable 220 passes around in" engaged relationship arcuatesurfaces 230 on cable take-up mechanism 224 and then loops around sheave249 rotatably mounted in sheave cage 242 on the left-hand side (asviewed in Fig.

'9) of'movablernast 195, and then crosses over-to be I anchored on th'eright-hand side (as viewed in Fig.9) of the machine chassis as at 244(Fig. 10).- As supplemental mast rnoves transversely. 'ofthemachinechassis I upon rocking of auxiliary frame. 201, mechanism 224 pivots topermit such transverse movement of mast 195 and yet retain the upperportion of the supplemental mast 195 in supported engagement with mainmast structure 205.

Transverse rocking movement of auxiliary frame 201 is accomplished bymeans of double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 246 whichextends generally diagonally (Fig. 9) between arm elements 202 of frame201. The plunger end of unit 246 is pivotally mounted as at 248 to abracket 250 on one of arm elements 202 while the cylinder end of unit246 is pivotally mounted as at 252 to bracket 254 on the other of armelements 202 of auxiliary frame 201. Feed lines 256 connect unit 246 toa pump 6 mouned on the machine chassis and suitable valve mechanism (notshown) of any conventional type may be provided to control the fiow offluid to unit 246. Upon outward movement of plunger element 256 of unit246, auxiliary frame 201 is caused to rock transversely of the machinechassis about its pivotal connections 203 to the latter, and thus shiftthe supplemental mast and associated boom 10 and excavating unit 11 tothe lefthand side (as viewed in Fig. 9) of the machine. A laterallyshifted position of the supplemental mast is shown in dot-dash in Fig.9.

The digging unit of the modification is driven in substantially the samemanner as in the first-described embodiment of the invention and achain-tensioning mechanism 258 of generally the same arrangement as inthe first-described embodiment is provided to take up slack in drivechain 40 during such transverse shifting movement of supplemental mast195, boom 10 and excavating unit 11.

Raising and lowering of boom 10 and associated excavating unit :11 isaccomplished as follows: Cables 260 and 262 (Fig. 11) secured at one endto winding drums 264 and 266 mounted on the machine frame and at theirother ends to the outer and inner ends respectively of boom 10 as at 268and 270, serve to control the raising and lowering movement of theexcavating wheel 11. The drums 264, 266 are driven by the motor 4 in anysuitable manner and are selectively controlled as for instance by manualoperating levers.

It will be seen from Fig. 11 that the cable system 260, 262 andassociated winding drums 264, 266 has a corresponding system disposed onthe other side of the machine chassis, and therefore is operative toraise and lower both sides of the boom structure concurrently. The othercomplementary system and parts thereof are designated by similarreference numbers, except with the prefix prime added thereto.

Cable 260 extends from winding drum 264, is looped around sheave 276(Figs. 8 and 11) mounted on the fixed or main mast structure 205, passesdownwardly to loop around sheave 278 (Fig. 9) rotatably mounted on themachine chassis adjacent the lower portion of arm element 207 of themain mast structure, passes upwardly to loop around swivel sheave 280mounted on bracket 282 carried by head portion 197 of supplemental rnast195, extends rearwardly to loop around sheave 284 (-Fig. 11) attached tothe outer end of boom 10 and then extends forwardly to loop aroundsheave 286 rotatably mounted on movable mast structure 195. From sheave286 cable 260 extends rearwardly to dead end or be anchored asaforementioned to the outer end of boom 10 on one side thereof as at 268(Fig. 11). Cable 262 (Fig. ll) extends rearwardlyfrom winding drum 266,loops around sheave 283 mounted on the upper portion of fixed mast 205,passes downwardly to loop around sheave 290 (Fig. 9) mounted onthe lowerportion of one of arm elements 207 of main mast 205, passes upwardly tolooparound swivel sheave 292' mounted as by means of bracket 294 onmovable or supplemental mast 195, passes downwardly to loop aroundpulley 296 (Fig- 8) attached to the inner end of boom structure l andthen passes upwardly to loop around sheave 298 (Fig. 9) carried by headportion 197 of supplemental mast 195 and then passes downwardly to deadend or be anchored to the inner end of boom structure 10 asaforementioned at 270. The excavating unit and digging boom structure ofthe modification of the invention is not adapted to be tiltablelaterally from the generally vertical plane position, as in the firstembodiment of the invention.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will beunderstood that the invention pro-,

vides a compact excavating machine having an excavating unit andassociated boom structure that is mounted for rapid and coordinatedvertical movement on a supplementary mast structure and wherein suchsupplementary mast structure is quickly and efiiciently movablelaterally to either side of the machine chassis, such vertical andlateral shifting movements being accomplished by hydraulic means incombination with a sheave and cable system or systems. In addition, theinvention provides an excavating machine of the latter type wherein anovel chain-tensioning mechanism is provided to take up slack in thedriving chain of the system driving the excavating unit and yet stillpermitting the transverse shifting movement of the excavating unit, andwherein a novel arrangement for transverse shifting of the unloadingconveyor of the excavating machine is provided, such shifting beingaccomplished by hydraulic means in combination with a sheave and cablesystem. The invention also provides an excavating machine wherein theexcavating unit is not only movable laterally of the machine chassis butalso is tiltable laterally from its generally vertical plane position.In addition, the invention provides other novel structural features forimproving the eificiency and usability of the excavating machine.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

I claim:

1. In an excavating machine, a supporting frame, stationary maststructure fixed to said frame, movable mast structure supported by saidstationary mast structure for travel transversely thereof, means forshifting said movable mast structure transversely of said stationarymast structure, means including a reciprocable hydraulic motor unit foractuating said first mentioned means, an excavating unit carried by saidmovable mast structure, a power unit mounted on said supporting frame, acountershaft assembly mounted on said frame so as to extend generallylongitudinally thereof and .operatively connected to said power unit, adifferential transmission unit mounted on said movable mast structureand being drivingly connected to said excavating unit for actuating thelatter, an endless drive chain extending transversely with respect tosaid supporting frame and drivingly connecting said counter-shaftassembly with said differential unit to drive the latter, chaintensioning means mounted on said supporting frame and coacting with saiddrive chain to take up slack in the latter, said tensioning meanscomprising at least one arm element pivotally mounted on said supportingframe and including aneccentric portion at'its pivotal connection tosaid frame, a plurality of generally'vertically spaced sprocket wheelsrotatablymounted on said arm, said drive chain being looped about saidsprocket wheels, a resilient unit extending diagonally betweensaid'eccentric portion and said supporting frame and connected theretofor pivoting said arm to, move said sprocket wheels into tensioningengagement with said chain, said resilient unit being connected to saideccentric portion so as to equalize the tension applied by saidtensioning means to said drive chain, the reflectivenitrment arm of saideccentric decreasing as the tension in said resilient unit increasesduring transverse movement of said movable mast structure.

2. In a mobile excavating machine, a supporting frame, a stationary mastmounted on said frame, said mast comprising a generally laterallyextending cross-member, a transversely movable mast mounted on saidstationary mast and including a generally laterally extendingcrossmember, an excavating unit carried by said movable mast, means forproviding anti-frictional movement of said movable mast with respect tosaid stationary mast, means for moving said movable mast transversely ofsaid stationary mast and said machine, said last-mentioned meanscomprising a double-acting reciprocal hydraulic cylinder and plungerunit mounted on said frame and a first flexible member of predeterminedlength anchored adjacent one end of said cross-member of said movablemast and anchored at the other end thereof to the opposite side of saidframe, said flexible member being movably connected to said cross-memberof said stationary mast adjacent one end of said last-mentionedcross-member, said last-mentioned end being generally diametricallyopposite to said first mentioned end, the plunger element of saidhydraulic unit having means thereon adapted to movingly engage inactuating relation said flexible member intermediate the latters endsand in inwardly spaced relationship to the anchored portions thereofupon relative movement in one direction between the cylinder and plungerelements of said hydaulic unit, to cause said movable mast to travel inone lateral direction transversely of said stationary mast, a secondflexible member of predetermined length anchored adjacent the oppositeend of said cross-member of said movable mast as compared to that whichsaid first flexible member is connected, said second flexible memberbeing anchored at the other end thereof'adjacent the generally centralportion of said cross-member of said stationary mast, said secondflexible member being movably connected adjacent the opposite end ofsaid cross-member of said stationary mast as compared to the connectionof said first mentioned flexible member to said stationary cross-member,said last-mentioned opposite cnd being generally diametrically oppositeto said first-mentioned opposite end, said plunger element of saidhydraulic unit having means thereon adapted to movingly engage inactuating relation said second flexible member intermediate its ends andin vertically spaced relationship to the anchored portions thereof uponrelative movement between the cylinder and plunger elements of thehydraulic unit in the latters other direction of reciprocal movement tocause said movable mast to travel transversely of said stationary mastin the opposite lateral directionas compared to said first mentionedlateral direction.

3. In an excavating machine, a supporting frame, mast structure mountedon's'aid frame, an excavating unit carried by said mast structure, saidexcavating unit, being normally disposed for operation in a generallyvertical plane position, and means mounted on mast structure andoperatively connected to said excavating unit for tilting saidexcavating unit laterally from said normal vertical plane position, saidlast-mentioned means comprising a drum rotatably mounted on said maststructure, a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit mounted on said maststructure, an arm fixed to said drum and pivotally connected to thepiston element of said hydraulic unit, and cables anchored to said drumand operatively connected to a side of said excavating unit, said drumbeing rotated by said arm upon actuation of said bydraulic unit wherebysaid cables are wound about said drum and tilt said excavating unitlaterally from its normal vertical plane position.

4. In an excavating machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein certainof said cables are wound in a clockwise direction about said drum whileother of said cables are wound in a counter-clockwise direction aboutsaid drum before anchoring of said cables to said drum, said drum beingrotatable in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, saidexcavating unit being tiltable to either side of its normal generallyvertical plane position depending upon which of said directions saiddrum is rotated.

5. In an excavating machine, a supporting frame, mast structure mountedon said frame, an excavating unit carried by said mast structure, saidexcavating unit being normally disposed for operation in a generallyvertical plane position, and means mounted on said mast structure andoperatively connected to said excavating unit for tilting saidexcavating unit laterally from'said normal vertical plane position, saidlast mentioned means comprising, a drum rotatably mounted on said maststructure, a fluid powered motor unit mounted on said mast structure,means operatively connecting said motor unit to said drum, and cablesanchored to said drum and operatively connected to a side of saidexcavating unit, said drumbeing rotatable by said motor unit uponactuation of the latter whereby said cables are wound about said drumand tilt said excavating unit laterally from its normal vertical planeposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS558,683 Girouard Apr.'21, 1896 1,056,105 Krupp Mar. 18, 1913 1,175,174Peterson Mar. 14, 1916 1,254,191 Bales Jan. 22, 1918 1,476,375 ShookDec. 4, 1923 1,733,427 Ruth Oct. 29, 1929 1,754,551 Greiman Apr. 15,1930 1,762,569 Barber June 10, 1930 2,280,021 Askue Apr. 14, 19422,321,352 .Askue June 8, 1943 2,598,339 Askue May 27, 1952 2,624,129Steece Jan. 6, 1953 2,658,342 Banister et al. Nov. 10, 1953 2,790,568Mandt Apr. 30, 1957 2,811,240

Fenton Oct. 29, 1957

